A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitch Hay.

Hebrew Scriptures Exodus 16 selections

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of YHWH in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then YHWH said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day . . .

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was YHWH who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of YHWH, because God has heard your complaining against God. For what are we, that you complain against us?”

YHWH spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am YHWH your God.'"

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground.

When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “Man-hu?” (“What is it?”) For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that YHWH has given you to eat.”